Mercer County undersheriff Jimmy Taylor passes away

James Taylor, the first undersheriff in the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, died suddenly at Capital Health Hospital in Hopewell on Saturday. The 44-year veteran of Mercer County law enforcement who went by Jimmy was 65 years old.

“The passing of Jimmy leaves a void and emptiness in my heart that words cannot express what I truly feel,” Sheriff John Kemler said in a statement. “I have known Jimmy for over 30 years and I am what I am now, because of his support and wise advice.”

Taylor, who was born and raised in Trenton, began his law enforcement career in 1968 with the Trenton Police Department, where he was a detective in the vice unit and homicide division. One of the major highlights of his TPD career was helping to close out the murder case of Emma Jane Stockton in 1979 by arresting army deserter Keith Alford, who raped her in two separate instances, killing her during their second encounter.

In 1990, then-Sheriff Sam Plumeri recruited Taylor to be his undersheriff. The two remained close friends up until Taylor’s death. When Plumeri resigned to take a job with the Port Authority in 2002, Taylor became the acting sheriff. He would retire from the sheriff’s office in 2003, but he returned to law enforcement with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, where he was a confidential agent to prosecutor Joseph Bocchini. He returned to the sheriff’s office in 2011 as first undersheriff to Kemler.

“He was loved by everyone,” Undersheriff Pedro Medina said.

“Jimmy and I not only spend time together working as law enforcement officers, but we were one in mind and spirit,” Kemler said. “I will truly miss Jimmy’s humor, support and encouragement, but most of all I will miss his friendship.”

Taylor is survived by his wife Rose, his daughter Jaimy and son-in-law Chris and granddaughter, Chloe.